Latest early Idaho Songs of the Month have been posted for Idaho Songs Project from old Idaho songs guru Gary Eller (the songs & Gary are both old).

The early Idaho Songs of the Month postings for June, July, August and September are now on line. Just follow the Songs of the Month links from www.bonafidaho.com/idahosongs.htm. This time we are featuring songs based on the writing of Idaho's colorful Hannibal F. "Seven Devils" Johnson who mined, preached, politicked, wrote, and sold fire extinguishers (among other things) from the 1880s through early 1900s in the Seven Devils region of Hells Canyon. Two of his songs, "Seven Devils Song" and "Trip to Rapid River", are rendered by Gary Eller. Dale Fisk of Council came up with a lovely melody and arrangement for Johnson's poem "Grave of a Stranger". The fourth song in the new posting - "Gooding Sheep Song" - is a rant against the powerful business and political empire of Gov. Frank Gooding and his brothers, rendered nicely by John Larsen of Marsing.

A few "new" pre-1923 era songs also have been added to the early Idaho Songs Bibliography. Notable among the new entries is the very rare song "The Raging Plains" (1864) which contains some new and interesting historical tidbits.

In other news, as a member of the Idaho Humanities Council I am supporting with Idaho Songs programs each of the six sites around Idaho that are hosting the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit "Journey Stories" which highlights stories of immigration to and migration around America. So far I've done programs at the Boundary County Historical Museum in Bonners Ferry and the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier. The other programs will be as follows:

Blaine County Historical Museum (Hailey) Sept. 7

Olde School Community Center (Fruitland) Oct. 27

Jerome Public Library (Jerome) Dec. 18 and Jan. 22 (2011)

Hayden Public Library (Hayden) Feb. 12 (2011)

You will not be disappointed by taking the effort to view this wonderful exhibit.

And finally, if you are in the Stanley area, I am doing a Speakers Bureau program at the museum in Stanley on Friday evening August 13th.

Regards - Gary Eller

Check out the website and if in any of the above areas, view the exhibits and catch Gary(aka Slim, the Banjo Man from Pickles Butte) live if you can. jr